Born in Budapest, raised in California. As UCLA senior, brokered $1 million airplane deal for Air New Zealand while juggling economics classes, 2 lifeguarding gigs. With $150,000 savings and a $1.7 million bank loan, started International Lease Finance with fellow Hungarians Louis and Leslie Gonda. Sold airplane leasing firm to AIG for $1.3 billion 1990. Started pushing for AIG to sell off ILFC after insurance giant posted $7.8 billion first-quarter loss in 2008; prized unit now on the block. Likely buyer: an investment group that includes Udvar-Hazy and other ILFC executives. AIG reported record-setting $62 billion loss in fourth quarter, stock down 97% in 2008 but Udvar-Hazy claims to have sold off his stake months before government bailout burned AIG's shareholders. Donates to Stanford, Harvard-Westlake in Beverly Hills, Smithsonian. Flies his own Gulfstream V.